There were chaotic scenes when tired patients waited in corridors for care, scores of operations were cancelled and services pushed to breaking point last year, as overcrowded hospitals across the country struggled to cope with the NHS’ worst winter on record.

Now, as the cold begins to bite one year on and health services approach the winter period again, the Yorkshire Evening Post is today launching the first of a series of special reports, examining the pressures faced by the city’s public health services and how the NHS is fighting back in Leeds.

The YEP spent the day at St James’ Hospital’s A&E department to understand its inner-workings, the efficiency work behind the scenes and streamlining of services to prepare ahead of what has been forecast as yet another testing winter period.

Health bosses are also today urging people to ensure they choose the right care and only attend A&Es in an emergency, to help ease the pressure on hospitals.

“Every acute health system in the country fears winter,” said Steve Bush, consultant and clinical director for emergency and specialty medicine at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

On the increase in attendances, Mr Bush pointed to lung problems such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), where he said there was typically a significant rise among elderly patients during winter.

But Mr Bush - alongside the NHS nationally - urged people to only come to the city’s A&Es in an emergency, as precious cubicles, beds and assessment time is often being swallowed up by those with less serious illnesses that could be cared for elsewhere.

“What we exist for is to do the accident and emergency bit,” he said.

“We are excellent at spotting somebody who is unwell or severely injured, identifying what they need and delivering that.

“What every emergency department in the world finds is that for every person like that, there’s somebody who has a headache that they’ve had for 10 days but have only just started worrying about it. Or tummy ache: they’ve had it for two years and it’s a bit worse this time. They have fallen and hurt their back three weeks ago but it’s still sore and they want a sick note.”